Solution oriented hypnotic analgesia

Solution Oriented Hypnotic Analgesiain Naltrexone Treatment for Heroin AddictionAbstract
I have been using Solution Oriented Hypnosis and Solution Oriented Counselling for anumber of years. During that time, I have counselled several hundred Heroin addicts whowere undergoing Rapid Opiate Detoxification (ROD) with the drug Naltrexone. Heroinaddicts suffer from acute and chronic pain. Naltrexone only stops the acute physical pain.After ROD, the chronic psychological pain is intensified by the fact that they can no longermask it with Heroin analgesia. Their initial reaction is “I need a fix.” Another reason theywant to use is due to an automatic thought process and behaviour that they’ve learned asHeroin addicts. Although I have had good results from Solution Oriented Hypnosis andSolution Oriented Counselling, some patients continued to have setbacks, stopped usingNaltrexone, continued to use Heroin and discontinued their counselling. Why would they goback to using Heroin? Then a simple idea occurred to me. These people are in pain – the painincludes chronic psychological and emotional pain. I decided that the pain should be treatedsimilar to any other pain. They needed an analgesic that would interrupt that pain. Theyneeded something to replace Heroin analgesia. That’s when I started to research the idea ofusing hypnotic analgesia. The hypothesis of this paper is that while the patient is underhypnosis, I can somehow use direct and indirect suggestions so that as soon as theunconscious senses a pain trigger beginning to travel towards the conscious, the unconsciousthen releases a hypnotic analgesia which disrupts those pain messages from reaching theconscious. The rest of the paper first presents a cyclic model of Heroin addiction and nextconsiders the potential application of current research on hypnotic analgesia. The paper thenpresents two example case studies of patients recovering from ROD who I have treated usinga new hypnotic analgesia technique. I discuss these case studies and show that they providesome evidence that is consistent with the presence of a hypnotic analgesia effect. The paperconcludes by discussing the possibility that, for patients undergoing ROD, the new hypnoticanalgesia treatment can replace Heroin analgesia and thus break the tragic cycle of Heroinaddiction.1. IntroductionI have been using Solution Oriented Counselling and Solution Oriented Hypnosis for anumber of years. During that time, I have had the opportunity of counselling several hundredHeroin addicts who were undergoing Rapid Opiate Detoxification (ROD). Rapid OpiateDetoxification treatment involves going to hospital for one day and detoxing from Heroinwhile taking medication which results in conscious sedation. Post-detoxification treatmentinvolves taking the drug Naltrexone along with sedatives and antidepressants.
Naltrexone has two principal effects: Firstly, Naltrexone is an antagonist that occupies theopiate receptors in the brain and blocks the action of Heroin. The drug sits in the opiatereceptors of the brain and, while it sits there, opiates cannot occupy the receptors. It’s like akey sitting in a lock blocking another key from being used. Naltrexone stops the physiological
* Published in Proceedings of The Second Clinical Conference of Ampersand Australia, TrinityCollege, University of Melbourne, October 1999.
need for Heroin. Some post-ROD patients have tried using Heroin while taking Naltrexoneand they report that they feel nothing – and that it has no effect. Secondly, Naltrexone altersneural chemistry, which affects the rest of the body. This causes favourable changes inmeasured sex and thyroid hormone levels, which move toward their norms.
Naltrexone only stops the physical pain of withdrawal (acute pain) but it does not stop thepsychological pain (chronic pain). Chronic pain consists of psychological and emotional pain,which is the underlying pain, that Heroin analgesia has been masking for the term of theHeroin addiction. Chronic pain usually stems from the following causes: Dysfunctionalchildhood and adult family life and relationships; and/or sexual, psychological and emotionalabuse. After ROD, patients feel very sensitive to emotional, psychological and physical pain.Physical pain is the pain that is endured for a period of one to three weeks as a result of theROD. Some of the physical symptoms include physical weakness, nausea, vomiting,diarrhoea, cramps, insomnia, can’t eat, and heavy perspiration. So after a ROD, not only doesa patient have to deal with physical symptoms but on top of this a patient is faced with theawareness of having lived their life as a Heroin addict which usually involves some criminalactivities, including prostitution, lying, cheating, hurting their loved ones and other sociallydysfunctional behaviours.
For patients, all of the pain is intensified by the fact that they no longer can mask it withHeroin. Their initial reaction is to want to use: “I need a fix.” Another reason that they want touse is due to a learned thought process and behaviour as Heroin addicts. Typically, they getup in the morning and the first thing they think of is getting a fix. This ranges from one fix perday up to as many times as they can afford to per day. Their whole day revolves around usingHeroin. This becomes an automatic learned thought process and habitual behaviour, which issimilar to other automatic learned behaviours such as walking or riding a bike. Although theydon’t need to use because of the Naltrexone, they think they still want to and need to due tothe learned behaviour. This behaviour needs to be unlearnt. They also know that the next shotof Heroin could be fatal but they remember only the good feelings associated with theanalgesic effect of Heroin. This is due to memories of analgesic pain relief as they escape therealities of life.
To learn to deal with the realities of life, these patients need to continue taking Naltrexone for12 months or longer depending on the individual; they need to take antidepressants;they need to attend regular ongoing counselling sessions to deal with the realities of theunderlying chronic pain and they need to unlearn the automatic learned thought process andbehaviour. The counsellor needs to create an awareness of all of these aspects so thosepatients can adjust realistically.2. In Search of a SolutionAlthough I have had good results from using Solution Oriented Hypnosis and SolutionOriented Counselling, patients had setbacks. Some stopped using Naltrexone and continued touse Heroin; some failed to continue with their counselling; some still maintained a verynegative outlook about the future. I felt that there was something missing. What could I do toget through to that trigger that caused them to feel helpless and to stop taking Naltrexone; tostop counselling sessions and go back to using Heroin – even though they knew that that wasa life that they didn’t want to go back to – a life that they hated and detested? When thattrigger of using took off, they could only remember the analgesic effect of Heroin. I becameobsessed with the idea that there was an inner core of the patient which wasn’t being reachedby normal counselling and hypnosis.
Then a simple idea occurred to me: that these people are in pain. This pain is chronic ongoingpsychological and emotional pain, post-ROD physical pain, and the pain of adjusting to therealities of life without Heroin analgesia. I decided that the pain of Heroin addiction is likeany other pain and it should be treated like any other pain. They needed an analgesic that
would interrupt that pain. They needed something to replace Heroin analgesia. That’s when Istarted to research the idea of using hypnotic analgesia.3. Theory and HypothesisMy theory is that the unconscious detects a pain trigger, which travels from the unconsciousto the conscious. For example, when a person burns their finger it takes some time for thepain to travel from the finger to conscious awareness by the brain.
My hypothesis is that while the patient is under hypnosis, I can somehow use direct andindirect suggestions so that as soon as the unconscious senses that pain trigger and it starts totravel towards the conscious, the unconscious then releases a hypnotic analgesia whichdisrupts those messages from reaching the conscious.4. Treatment ImplicationsThe implications for a hypnotic analgesia treatment would be as follows:1. Perform a hypnotic analgesia induction for the acute and chronic pain arising from
2. During the induction, trigger a dissociation / disruption along the following lines: Pain
causes the urge for Heroin - this is the trigger. We want this unconscious pain trigger tocause the dissociation or disruption of the pain messages reaching the conscious.
The Case Studies section of this paper provides examples of the new hypnotic analgesiatreatment.5. The Heroin Addiction ExperienceThe Heroin addiction experience means that patients will present with many of the followingproblems:1. Physical pain of withdrawal2. Total chemical addiction on Heroin - Heroin is a dictator - it dictates their life3. Low self-esteem4. Social withdrawal5. Depression6. Inability to have relationships7. Social contacts are other Heroin addicts8. Heroin addiction becomes their lifestyle9. Prostitution10. Crime11. Jail12. Suicidal tendencies13. Diseases of neglect14. Loss of control over their own life15. Chronic Pain16. Acute Pain6. A Cyclic Model of Heroin AddictionIn my experience, Heroin addicts seem to conform to the following proposed cyclic model ofHeroin addiction:1. Psychological Pain (usually caused by dysfunctional background or ideas). Person takes
(analgesic) Heroin - result: no pain.
2. Addiction to Heroin develops; physiological pain due to withdrawal pain. Person takes
(analgesic) Heroin - result: no pain.
3. Operant conditioning: increases in pain are reinforced by ingestion of Heroin (analgesic)
which lowers pain (Heroin is a positive reinforcer because it lowers pain).
When chemical dependence develops, the need for the Heroin (analgesic) is signalled by anincrease in withdrawal pain.7. After Rapid Opiate Detoxification (ROD)Heroin addicts suffer from chronic and acute pain. After ROD, patients go back toexperiencing psychological and emotional pain, which is chronic. They can’t cope easily witheveryday life. Although, Naltrexone blocks the opiate receptors in the brain, patients still havea tendency to want to use. This is due to learned thought processes and behaviour as addicts -there seems to be an automatic response similar to other learned behaviours such as walkingor riding. They remember the good feelings associated with the analgesic effect of Heroin.This need is due to memories of analgesic pain relief, which is the Heroin as they escape therealities of life. The learned thought process and behaviour remembers only the analgesiceffect of Heroin dependence.8. Understanding Heroin AnalgesiaThe following account of Heroin Analgesia is based on Leonard (1992): Opiates exert theireffects by binding to specific receptors located in the brain and on peripheral organs. There isa high density of opiate receptors in the spinal cord and this explains the spinal analgesia,which many opiates produce. There are different kinds of opiate receptors. One kind is highaffinity and mediates supraspinal analgesia while a related kind is involved in respiratorydepression and in the gastrointestinal effects. The common side effect of most opiates iseuphoria and this helps to hook users into becoming dependent.
In the nontolerant adult, an acute dose of 100-200 mg of morphine can lead to respiratorydepression, coma and death. Single doses of more than ten times this amount can have littlevisible effect in the tolerant individual. Dependent users require high doses of opiate toprevent the occurrence of withdrawal effects.
Reducing plasma opiate levels or the administration of an opiate antagonist, such asNaloxone, leads to withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms include restlessness, craving,lacrimation, perspirations, fever, chills, vomiting, joint pain, and piloerection. The effectspeak around 2-3 days after the abrupt withdrawal of Heroin, Morphine, or related opiates.
Stress including the stress of everyday life can elevate the pain threshold. Studies have shownthat physical stress leads to an activation of endogenous opiate systems that raise the painthreshold. The euphoria which arises from physical exercise (jogging etc.) is probably due toendogenous opiate effects. On the other hand, in chronic pain syndromes, the concentration ofthe opiates in the cerebrospinalfluid decreases.9. Hypnotic Analgesia MechanismsErickson (1998) states that in a hypnotic trance, patients alter their relationship toexternalities; within a trance, the patient can learn to alter habit patterns while not attending tothe things that govern everyday contacts. Erickson has characterised pain as aneuropsychophysiological complex characterised by various understandings of tremendoussignificance to the sufferer. He believes that it is an experience which is particularly amenableto hypnotic treatment
The following account of hypnotic analgesia is based on the work of Joseph Barber andDonald Price together with their colleagues, (Barber, 1996).
Barber has described the pain experience has having both sensory and affective aspects. Pricehas reported that affective responses are more influenced by the patient’s situationalperceptions than are sensory responses. He reported that factors related to the patient’spsychological context could powerfully reduce affective responses to pain.
1 In this section, we simply use the term “opiates” to mean “opiates and/or opioids”, but see also(Leonard, 1992).2 In this section, all references after this point are cited in Barber (1996).
According to the neodissociation theory of Hilgard and Hilgard (1994), there is a reducedawareness of pain during hypnotic analgesia. According to this theory, pain is registered bythe body and by the unconscious during hypnotic analgesia, but it is hidden by an amnesia-like barrier between dissociated streams of consciousness. This view of hypnotic analgesiasuggests an explanation for the paradox that sometimes physiological stress is still presentduring hypnotic analgesia, even though the patient consciously feels little or no pain.
Price has suggested that hypnotic suggestions could reduce pain, by activating an endogenouspain inhibitory system that descends to the spinal cord. This system would actually disrupt thetransmission of pain-related information to the brain. Several researchers have shown thathypnotic analgesia includes suppression of activity in spinal sensory neurons. Further studieshave shown that this spinal hypnotic analgesia must be triggered by a mechanism which isseparate from one involving spinal opiate receptor sites. This is because investigators havefound that Naloxone Hydrochloride, an opiate antagonist, does not reverse analgesia producedby hypnotic suggestions. While this excludes the possibility of an opiate descending controlmechanism, nonopiate brain-to-spinal-cord descending control mechanisms are known toexist (Price, 1988).
Kiernan et al (1995) have carried out extensive research on the existence of a descendinginhibitory mechanism of hypnotic analgesia. In their study, they measured physical changes inthe R-III, a pain-sensitive spinal reflex, during hypnotic reduction of sensory pain andunpleasantness (affective pain). The results of this study suggest that three mechanisms mayby involved in hypnotic analgesia. Evidence for the first mechanism is suggested by measuredphysical reductions in the R-III and is related to spinal cord pain-blocking mechanisms.Evidence for the second mechanism is suggested by patient-reported reductions in sensorypain over and beyond measured reductions in physical R-III. This result may be related tomechanisms which hide awareness of pain, even though pain messages had reached higherbrain centres as predicted by Hilgard’s neodissociation theory (Hilgard and Hilgard, 1994).This second finding is consistent with Hilgards’ finding that some autonomic responses topain remain, even under the conditions of profound hypnotic analgesia. Evidence for the thirdmechanism is suggested by reductions in unpleasantness above and beyond reductions insensory pain, and maybe related to selective reduction in the affective dimension, possibly asa consequence of reinterpretation of meanings associated with the painful sensation, aspreviously suggested by Price and Barber (1987). The results of this study provide crucialconfirmation that hypnotic analgesia is a measurable psychophysiological phenomenon, andthat it has measurable effects on spinal reflexes.
A more detailed analysis of these three mechanisms of hypnotic analgesic effects will haveimportant therapeutic implications:
The third mechanism allows selective reduction of affective pain (i.e., unpleasantness)through changes in the meaning of sensations and of the contexts in which they occur. Pricesuggests that little or no hypnotic state is required for this type of influence, even though itmay be an integral part of hypnotic intervention. This could explain why even just SolutionOriented Counselling on its own can cause pain reduction.
The second mechanism allows perceived reductions in sensory pain by diverting painmessages from conscious awareness, even though these pain messages have reached highercentres. Depending on how much pain is masked within a patient, the normal somatomotorreflexes and autonomic, neuroendocrine, and neuroimmunolgical consequences of pain arenot diminished. This means that stress-related responses associated with pain still occur, andare potentially a physiological detriment to the patient if the source of the pain is notultimately treated.
The first mechanism allows blocking of pain messages at the spinal level of processing. Incontrast, to the second mechanism, negative physiological consequences of pain would be
diminished by this mechanism, since the blocking of pain messages would disrupt thesupraspinal activation of brain structures involved in autonomic and neuroendocrineresponses to pain.
Kiernan and Price have suggested that different patients may use different proportions ofthese mechanisms when undergoing hypnotic analgesia.10. Case StudiesThe following are examples of case studies conducted in the environment of a medical clinic.So far I have applied the new hypnotic analgesia treatment to 29 cases. The results of thesecases are as follows: There are some patients who did not return for their post-RODcounselling session and did not return for any further counselling (13 patients). This is notunusual, as there are always a number of patients who do not seek further counselling. Someof those who did not return live interstate – outcomes for the rest are unknown. Of thosepatients who took Naltrexone and continued with ongoing counselling (16 patients), all havestopped using Heroin and feel in control and are positive about their future. Some of thesepatients have gone back to work, are now actively seeking employment, or are very positiveabout their future. The following are summaries of two example case studies:10.1. AmberThe following is a summary of six hypnosis sessions with Amber that occurred over a periodof three months:
First Session - Pre-ROD: Amber, aged 38, has been a Heroin addict for 13 years and she hasHepatitis-C. Her Heroin addiction is costing her $50-$200 per week depending on how muchmoney she can afford. She lives with her two young children. Amber is a professional artist,and before Heroin she was very successful. She wants to do a ROD to stop her Heroinaddiction. Her Heroin addiction is stopping her from being a good parent and it’s affecting herwork, her health, and artistic abilities. This is making her depressed, guilty and sociallywithdrawn. Amber’s parents were both alcoholics. She told me that this affected her a lot. Shefelt isolated from her parents – she withdrew and played by herself. Her drug addiction beganat age 14 with alcohol. At age 17, she used Speed and alcohol. At age 25, she began usingHeroin and still continued with Speed and alcohol. She wants to give up Heroin because she’ssick of the Heroin lifestyle and she’s sick of the helplessness she feels of not achieving hergoals. Her future orientation is to see her children settled; have a nice car; feeling physicallywell; having a good job; and living like normal people; and not pretending that her house istidy. Hypnotic induction used: her focus for the induction in this session was no more Heroin.After induction: She said that she felt great: “I went to a place that I used to go to when I wasa child on the beach. And I used to throw rocks in the water.”
Second Session – Post ROD: Amber had thoughts about using [Heroin] but has not used.Amber reported the usual post-ROD physical symptoms that most patients suffer from: soreback, sore legs, mouth thrush, physical weakness, insomnia – broken sleep pattern. Shedecided that she was going to deal with each day at a time – in small steps. In this case, hersteps were moving from her house and keeping away from people who use. Hypnoticinduction used: Her focus was no Heroin; feeling well; to continue to not want to use; to sleepwell and to have no pain. After induction: She said that she felt great.
Third session: She reported that things were going well: “I had reality in the face. Theresponsibility of the kids, but no thoughts of using. I was shocked at the state of my house – Ican see things more clearly.” Hypnotic induction used: her focus was moving house; fixing upher finances and getting into a routine with the kids and to work on her art. During theinduction, I suggested she might like to imagine herself at a place where there was a pond
3 All names and identifying details in the Case Studies section have been altered to ensure patientconfidentiality.
with flowers of many colours surrounding it. After induction: She said: “It’s the best – theflowers.”
Fourth session: She reported that she still didn’t want to use and that things were going well;but she’s been having dreams about using Heroin and Speed; she’s been having dreams abouther ex partner. Hypnotic induction used: was not to feel stressed; dealing with her dreams;and continuing to not use drugs. After induction: She said, “I’m feeling good – I went deeperthan I ever have before.” She said: “I felt a tingling in my shoulders and the back of myhands.”
Fifth session: She reported that she was feeling good – still not wanting to use Heroin; she’sfound a new house and is moving in four weeks. She informed me that she has seven works inprogress. She told me that she thought about using [Heroin] but didn’t. When I asked herwhat stopped her, she replied, “I thought about the negatives and physical risk; my children;I’ve worked so hard – I like my new life; I’ve basically been happy. She now has a boyfriend.Hypnotic induction used: her focus is to keep going when she’s stressed and to get over thenext few weeks. After induction: She said, “I’m feeling relaxed.” She informed me that whenshe’s working on her art at home, she thinks about our sessions and it [the ideas] just allcomes.
Sixth session: She reported that she was not using and had no thoughts about using. She’smoving to her new house in that week. She informed me that it’s been difficult but she’scoping. When I asked her how has it been difficult, she said it was due to physical hard work[moving house] and confronting the issues surrounding the move – normal concerns. Sheinformed me that she’s happy and going from strength to strength. Hypnotic induction used:her focus is being able to cope with her finances; and she’s concerned about coping with herchild starting at a new school. After induction: She said, “That was great. I didn’t cough once– I have a cold you know. I got an idea for an art work.”
10.2. JohnThe following is a sample of several hypnosis sessions with John that occurred over a periodof two months:
First Session – Pre-ROD: John, aged 41, has been a Heroin addict for 20 years and he hasHepatitis-C. He is married and has one child. He is a blue-collar worker. He has been on aMethadone program for the past seven years. He informed me that being on a Methadoneprogram has made him hungrier for opiates. He said that “Doctor’s have always put me on ahigh dose of Methadone.” He informed that, prior to taking up Heroin, he had a verysuccessful job as a retail store manager.” He informed me that he wants to do a ROD becausehe is “sick of being under the control of Heroin.” John informed me that he had a goodchildhood – to the extent of being spoiled because he was the youngest child. He had a goodrelationship with his parents. His drug addiction began at age 17 with cigarettes and alcohol.At age 19, he took Serapax and LSD. At age 21, he started using Heroin because of peergroup pressure. His future orientation is no Heroin; to go back to work; to treat his wife like ahuman being, to understand her better; and to feel everything for her; to have self-esteem andno guilt; to have a better job; to join a gym and get fit; and to pay his debts and work hard.Hypnotic induction used: his focus for the induction in this session was not to use Heroin.After induction: He said, “I feel like I’ve found a bunch of keys on the floor. I enjoyed it. Ifelt peaceful. It was funny about the keys. I felt a Chinese man handed them to me – theywere my house keys. I’m feeling good – I feel like I’ve had a good night’s sleep. I’m goinghome to sleep – I don’t feel like having Heroin.”
Second Session – Post ROD: Physical symptoms: cramps in the stomach, nausea, headache,inability to sleep, inability to eat. John informed me that he eventually got some sleep and thathe felt good when he woke up. He said that he is feeling good mentally and is feelingrefreshed. Hypnotic induction used: His focus was on going back to work and not using
Heroin; to look towards a positive future; to go on a holiday overseas. After induction: Hesaid, “I’m feeling good. You took me back to places – remembering my childhood. Iexperienced the Sun, being at the pond, clear water and flowers – these all reminded me ofwhere I was born. I could see the bottom of the pond. I’m feeling good – my stomach crampsare gone even.”
Third Session: He reported that he had no thoughts about using Heroin. He said, “I have dayswhen I feel good and other days when I’m physically weak – my stomach is not sore anymore. I went for a drive with my wife and baby the other night – that night I slept well.”Hypnotic induction used: his focus was to be able to sleep well; to not feel nervous; to not useHeroin and to feel healthy. After induction: He informed me that he felt relaxed: “I could feela tingling in my legs and hands. My legs felt more relaxed – my mind felt more relaxed. I wasthinking of sleeping.” He also informed me that soon after the previous session, he wasreading a book at home in the evening at which point he felt a tingling in his back, after whichhe felt really good.
Fourth Session: He reported that he had no urge to use Heroin; that he was sleeping, eating,and had no urge to smoke cigarettes; and that he had no nervousness in the legs. He said, “Thenervousness in the legs stopped on the day that I last saw you. I feel better now than ever[before].” He informed me that he’s now joining more in family activities e.g., dressing thebaby. He also said he would like to do a university course. He said he’d had no contact withHeroin users. He said to me, “I’ve cleansed my soul of the bad things I did; I’ve forgivenmyself.” Hypnotic induction used: his focus was to do a university course; stay off Heroin;looking towards a good future; to keep feeling positive; for the relationship with his wife tokeep improving. After induction: He said, “I’m feeling very relaxed. I could go home andhave a nap; I’m feeling great.”
Fifth Session to Sixth Session: [Omitted].
Seventh Session: John informed me, “I get feelings during the day where I get a ‘high’ . Theyoccur spontaneously.” [rest of session omitted].
Eighth Session: He said that he was feeling well and was staying off Heroin. He informed methat he was starting a new job the next day. He said that he was sleeping OK. He said hewakes up but then is able to go back to sleep. He said his depression was gone. Hypnoticinduction used: His focus was to stay off Heroin and continue to move forward. Afterinduction: He said, “I’m feeling good; my headache is gone; it was like a tension headachebut now it’s gone.”
11. Hypnotic Analgesia TechniquesEach patient session starts with a prehypnotic discussion, which includes some informalhypnotic suggestions, followed by a formal hypnotic analgesia induction. The prehypnoticdiscussion covers mainly affective pain (unpleasantness and mood). The prehypnoticdiscussion also appears to reduce some of the sensory pain, probably due to a change inaffect, and also due to some informal hypnotic suggestions, which includes using metaphors.The formal hypnotic analgesia induction covers affective pain, sensory pain, andspinal-inhibitory pain.11.1. Prehypnotic DiscussionTo help patients, I use several techniques in the prehypnotic discussion: I tell them aboutsolution oriented counselling and hypnosis. That it’s solution-focused. ; that you help them tofocus on a solution. Because Heroin is such a dictator – it takes control of their life; mycounselling and hypnosis is to try and help them. I help them to gain control over their life; todraw on their inner strengths and resources.
I never tell them what to do. The suggestions that I make are just suggestions - I’m not tellingthem what to do at all. When I suggest something I say, “That suggestion is for you to use in away that is comfortable for you. I would never tell you what to do or how to do it. I thinkdifferently to you. For example, the way that we’re both sitting is different. If I told you whatto do it would be like me telling you to wear your left shoe on your right foot. Even if youwanted to do what I say you couldn’t because you’re different to what I am – your you.” Atthis point, I sometimes tell a patient the metaphor about Erickson letting the stray horse guideitself back home.
I openly listen to what they have to say and observe their mood and their behaviour. I jointhem by listening which is empathic. It also means that what they have to say is important andit gives me an idea in what direction I guide them. I also observe them very closely. It tells meabout any peculiarities and my observation also informs me about whether what I’m saying ishaving a negative or a positive impact on them. Every person is different – this is not a fixedformat. I view every person as an individual. I cater to the individual’s needs by observing,listening, and being empathic to the patient. I ask them on a 1-10 scale about how much theywant to give up Heroin. If it’s a low score then I ask them what will it take to get it to a higherscore.
I explain to them about Naltrexone. I explain to them that Heroin has a learned thoughtprocess and behaviour which they need to unlearn. ROD is not a miracle cure and they needto adjust to a new behaviour. If they are serious about giving up Heroin, which I know theyare, they need to commit to taking Naltrexone and attending counselling for a period of time.Depending on how long it takes. I emphasise that after the ROD, they will probablyexperience a need to use and a wanting to use. I emphasise to them that what they’reexperiencing is a chronic learned thought process and behaviour. I say to them that as long asthe Naltrexone is sitting in the opiate receptors of the brain they don’t need to use and theydon’t want to use because the Naltrexone takes away the physiological need. They really needto be aware of this distinction so that when the thoughts of using enter their mind they canrecognise them as a thought process and behaviour from the past; and that the present issimply just that they don’t need to and don’t want to use.
I try to create an environment where the patient can draw on inner resources and abilities:When a patient first seeks my help, it’s because that patient is dissatisfied with the present andwants to change their future. Associated with this is a sense of helplessness and hopelessness.They feel stuck – there’s an inability to move forward. Most of these patients have triedgiving up Heroin and tried conventional detoxing several times and failed. They come into thesession with deep fears about wanting to use or needing to use. I accept the person as they arewithout passing judgement.
Another prehypnotic technique is normalisation: I view the person as a normal person. I try tonormalise the patient’s fears and experiences. I view them as normal people with Heroinaddiction. I help the person by normalising their behaviour which helps take away believedlabels about themselves, which come about through their own negative experiences, or whichhave been placed on them by others. My attitude towards them already starts to change theirview about themselves. They begin to view themselves as normal. Once this normalisationprocess starts, the patients no longer view Heroin addiction as somehow organic orcongenital. They weren’t born with Heroin addiction – it’s not organic – it’s just habitual. It’sjust a learnt behaviour. Anything that can be learnt can be unlearnt.
Once the opiates are out of their system they are no longer Heroin addicts. They need toadjust to a new way of life without Heroin. They’ve had a relationship with Heroin. And likeany other good or bad relationship that ends, they have to adjust to living without thatrelationship. They do this by taking Naltrexone which takes care of their physiological needand counselling / hypnosis which takes away their emotional and psychological pain.
They are now able to view Heroin as a separate entity from themselves; as something externalthat they can control rather than Heroin controlling them. They are now able to view Heroinas just an addiction. This enables them to gain control. They start to believe that they cancontrol it.
I help them to gain control by understanding the nature of their Heroin addiction. During thisprocess I’m empathising with them by helping them to externalise their actions due to Heroinaddiction. I say things like, “Heroin is a dictator. It takes control of your life. It tells you whatto do and when to do it.” It tells them what to do. It makes them act against their own will.There is a total loss of control over their life. It’s as though they're outsiders looking in;watching themselves spiral into degradation. Into a life of stealing, lying, depression,inability to work, bad relationships, sometimes prostitution, and suicidal tendencies. Heroinbecomes a learned thought process and behaviour. Heroin becomes their life. It’s almost as ifthey have a split personality where they don’t want to take Heroin because they know what itdoes but they do it anyway. They do it because it takes away psychological and physiologicalpain.
To help them understand the external force of Heroin, I tell them metaphorical stories. Forexample, one of the stories that I tell is about a Heroin addict who was so desperate that shecontemplated chopping her fingers off so that she could be taken to hospital and be givenMorphine and Pethidine. Luckily, while she was in this frenzy she happened to come acrosssomething she could steal and sell for a fix.
This helps them to understand the externalised control of Heroin. It also helps them to knowthat I empathise with them. It helps them to come to terms with whatever dysfunctionalactions they committed while under the influence of Heroin. I help empower them by gettingthem to view Heroin as an external dictating force. I help them to recognise their monster. Ido this by telling a metaphor about a person who had recurring nightmares for most of hislife. This person came from a dysfunctional background. This person would wake up everymorning in a cold sweat. Then one night during his nightmare he decided to stop running andface his monster. With his fist clenched he turned to the monster and as he did that themonster vanished. This helps them to understand their monster (their problem) so it can bedestroyed (problem solved).
Viewing Heroin as an external force helps patients to separate themselves from it.By dissociating themselves from the guilt of their actions, they are able to start building theirself-esteem. This process involves them starting to forgive themselves for the deeds they didwhile on Heroin and they need to start loving themselves again.
They can then begin to forgive themselves and start loving themselves. There’s a shift to themstarting to forgive themselves and love themselves and moving forward. How would you likeyour life to be? Why ROD? What are you expecting to happen after ROD? Why did you starttaking Heroin? What are you expecting to change? I start to ask them about their futureorientation. What would you like your life to be like?
Then I get them to explain their pain and their concerns; to get the to talk to me about theirpain. I ask them about their childhood and the drug abuse and their actions as a Heroin addict– how Heroin has affected their life – what it has cost them financially – how Heroin hasdisrupted their social life, their work and relationships.
“You have survived a horrific ordeal and this has made you as stronger person.” I try and takeall that negative stuff that they tell me and I say the good thing is that the future hasn’thappened yet and all this negative experience that you’ve had with Heroin can be a learningexperience where in the future you won’t be making the same mistakes. I tell a metaphorabout a person who gets tomorrow’s paper today. He then goes into the future to manipulateit. So the outcome is a positive one. So the patient learns that their future hasn’t happened yet
–and isn’t it great – then the patient can manipulate their own future so that there’s a positiveoutcome.
I do this by orienting the client’s expectation towards being successful by using futureorientation. Their future hasn’t happened yet. I use the metaphor of the magic wand to getthem to imagine that we’re in the future. They tell me what’s happening in the future. Theseare their goals. What their life is like. They usually tell me, “No Heroin, I’m feeling fantastic.I’ve joined a gym. I have a wife and two children. I have a nice house, a car, a dog etc. I’mfeeling great.” I’m always moving them forward – I’m opening up possibilities – all the time.These discussions about future orientation take the patient away from their immediate painand orient them towards a positive future. Hence these are a form of indirect informalhypnotic suggestion. This also causes some dissociation where they can experience a positivefuture. Dissociating themselves from a negative present and going into the future where theyare actually experiencing an analgesic high on being and feeling successful. This causes aneuropsychophysiological change which is demonstrated by an observed change in affect;their posture changes, their voice – the tone of their voice changes to a more positive one –their skin colour changes.11.2. Formal Analgesia InductionI now ask the patient if they are ready to go into hypnosis. I ask them what do you knowabout hypnosis: the usual answer is stage hypnosis, or nothing. I explain that the hypnosis I’mabout to do is not like stage hypnosis, where I’m somehow going to take over their mind andtheir body and they’ll do exactly what I tell them to do – it’s exactly the opposite. I makesuggestions that will help them to gain control over their own lives by drawing on their owninner resources.
I explain to them that they don’t have to feel in any particular way. That every individualexperiences hypnosis in their own way. They don’t have to feel that they’re under hypnosis.And that they can move, talks, or do whatever they need to do – and that they can stopwhenever they want to. It is their session and they are in control. That they can hear my voicebut they don’t have to listen to what I say. That they can have their own experiences.
I then ask them what their focus is for the induction – what they’d like to focus on. Forexample in John’s first session, his focus was not to use Heroin.
My technique for the hypnotic analgesia induction has a structure based on Barber (1996) butthe form varies depending on the individual needs of the patient:
It’s important to elicit the patient’s attention and cooperation. I do this by suggesting that theymight like to close their eyes and that they might like to rest back in the chair and to allowtheir body to be as comfortable as they know how. I then reduce the patient’s range ofattention by suggesting that with their eyes closed, they might like to take a deep relaxingbreath and hold it and then to let their breath all the way out as they feel their body sinkingback deeper into the chair. The next thing I do is to narrow the patient’s focus of attention anddirect them to look inward; I say to them, “As you breathe in and out comfortably, you mightbegin to notice a pleasant heaviness that can become more and more a part of yourawareness.” As they notice that heaviness, they can also notice how easy it is to listen to thesound of my voice, and that they can understand what I say without any particular effort. Allthe sounds that they hear can become part of their comfort and well being with nothing todisturb them.
The next thing is to suggest dissociation. As they continue to be more absorbed in the comfortof their own breathing. I suggest that as they breathe in and out, their awareness of theirbreathing is all that matters; it’s as if though nothing else really matters –just their breathingand their comfort. I then suggest that they might have begun to notice a tingling sensation intheir fingers –a pleasant glowing sensation. This tingling sensation reminds them of how
deeply absorbed and comfortable they can be. I then suggest that they might notice a similartingling sensation in their lower back and in the soles of their feet. They might feel as if theyare glowing with energy while allowing the sound of my voice to continue to be part of theircomfort.
After dissociation, I offer therapeutic suggestions by using metaphors. While making thesesuggestions, I incorporate their future orientation and their hypnotic focus. The reason I bringthese in is because it’s a continuation of the goals they want to achieve which were covered inthe prehypnotic discussion. For example, I suggest that they might like to go to a place wherethe sun is shining through the tree tops and that they can feel the warmth of the sun on theirchest, shoulders, and face, and their lower back; warm, glowing, energising, healing, comfort;and that in this place there’s a pond with crystal clear water and the water is so very very clearthat they can see to the very bottom of the pond. They pick up a tiny pebble and throw it intothat pond and watch the ripples slowly, slowly, rippling away. I suggest that in this place theycan have the life that they want; that they don’t need to use Heroin; and they can stop usingHeroin. They can achieve their goals and have the life that they want without using Heroin orother drugs.
The therapeutic suggestions now begin to focus more heavily on hypnotic analgesia. I suggestthat as they continue to feel absorbed by the sensation of their breathing. I will be talking tothat part of them that controls the sensations in their nerves. I suggest that they can listen tome or just float comfortably, knowing that their system is hearing everything that I’m sayingto them. I suggest to them that whenever their unconscious detects that trigger of pain,whether it’s psychological, physiological, or emotional pain, that their unconscious willrelease a hypnotic analgesia, which will disrupt those messages from reaching theirconsciousness. And whenever they take a deep breath, they might like to notice howcomfortable they feel with nothing to bother them and nothing to disturb them. I suggest tothem that they have the capacity to increase or decrease the sensation throughout their body. Isuggest that they might feel interested in the way that they decrease the sensations inwhatever part of the body they need to. “And you won’t know how you do it – you can becurious and you can be surprised that whenever those painful electrical feelings begin to shoottowards your consciousness, for some reason they will just stop; like a sneeze that never quitehappened. You won’t know how at first but the sensation just seems to stop almost before itcan quite get started. Almost as if your nervous system is beginning to retrain those nerves tono longer send those painful messages across to your consciousness.” Then I suggest thatsometime later that day, they will suddenly notice how well they are feeling; and they wontknow how and they wont know why but they’ll just feel better.
After this, I start providing suggestions to end the experience. I suggest that they might like tonotice how easily they find themselves breathing; and with each breath they will findthemselves more refreshed and more energised. I suggest to them that as they take really deepbreaths, and as their eyes open, they might like to notice how refreshed they feel; as if they’vejust had a restful nap.12. DiscussionIn the case of Amber, when Amber first came, she felt an inability to give up Heroin. In thepast thirteen years, she had tried many times but had not succeeded. She looked unkept andher face had no colour with a greyish defeated look. She felt stuck and out of control. Herhypnotic analgesic induction involved metaphors about her future orientation and about herhypnotic induction focus; also I made suggestions that she had the ability to control thesensations of her nerves, and that her unconscious would release a hypnotic analgesia todisrupt painful electrical feelings from reaching her consciousness.
After her induction in the first session, she reported that she had had a good experience andthat she felt positive about her ability to give up Heroin and to have the life and future that shewanted. That it was within her reach. After each session, she reported and I observed
progressive changes in her whole physical and emotional affect. From her case study, after thefourth session induction, she reported she was feeling good, and that during the induction shehad felt a tingling sensation in her shoulders and the back of her hands. Her physical look isnow radiant – her skin glows with health. These changes are consistent with an analgesiaeffect. She is motivated, energetic, has good self-esteem, feels empowered and has started herart work again. She informed me that the hypnotic sessions inspire her with her art workideas. Amber informed me that she is happy with her life and that she never wants to useHeroin again.
In the case of John, when he first came in, he informed me that he’d been a Heroin addict fortwenty years. He looked tired, defeated, depressed and anxious. His physical appearance wasuntidy – his face looked drawn and grey. He informed me that he had tried many times to giveup Heroin but he had failed. During his hypnotic analgesic induction, I suggested that hemight like to go to a place where he felt comfortable, warm, glowing with energy and a senseof well being. I suggested he also had the ability to control the sensations in his nerves. Hedidn’t know how or why but that he would just feel better. Whenever his unconsciousdetected that trigger of pain, whether psychological, physical, or emotional then hisunconscious would release a hypnotic analgesia, which would disrupt those messages fromreaching his consciousness. That at some stage, possibly today, or at some other time, hewould notice a sense of well being.
After the first and each subsequent session, John reported a sense of well being. He reportedthat he had no need to use Heroin. He informed me that he felt in control about his future. Hereported that he felt very positive about the relationship with his wife and child. He informedme that his depression was gone. I observed progressive changes in his physical andemotional affect. He began to take pride in how he presented himself. His skin colour had ahealthy glow and looked more alert and he spoke more confidently about his future. From hiscase study, after the second session induction, he reported that he felt good and that hisstomach cramps were gone. After the third session induction, he reported that he was readinga book at home in the evening at which point he felt a tingling in his back, after which he feltreally good. After the seventh session induction, he told me, “I get feelings during the daywhere I get a ‘high.’ They occur spontaneously.” Again, these changes are consistent with ananalgesia effect. John informed me that he is feeling positive about his future and that he wontuse Heroin ever again. He has forgiven himself and wants to keep working. He would like toeventually do a university course.
From the two case studies, there is some evidence that the new hypnotic analgesia treatmentwill make it easier for Heroin addicts to stop their addiction after ROD with Naltrexone.
My results in these case studies appear to support the work of Price and Barber (1996). Fromthe case studies, the prehypnotic discussion does have a positive analgesic effect on theaffective and the sensory pain. The formal hypnotic induction, as shown with these cases,shows a positive effect on sensory pain and a positive effect on spinal-mediated sensory pain.The dramatic changes observed in the healthy glow of their skin colour and the patients’reports of absence of pain lend support to the presence of a hypnotic analgesia which worksvia the spinal inhibitory system, which causes the total disruption of pain messages fromreaching consciousness.
We can view the hypnotic analgesia as being stronger than Heroin analgesia: This is because,apart from disrupting sensory pain, it also disrupts emotional and psychological pain fromreaching consciousness. Heroin only numbs the sensory pain for a short period and masks, butdoes not stop, the chronic emotional and psychological pain. When the Heroin analgesiawears off the pain returns so they need to use again.
This is a preliminary study. The case studies I have worked with so far provide positiveevidence that supports my hypothesis of finding a hypnotic analgesia that would replace
Heroin analgesia. For patients undergoing ROD, the new hypnotic analgesia treatment canreplace Heroin analgesia and thus break the tragic cycle of Heroin addiction.AcknowledgmentsI would like to thank Dr. Michael Kozminsky, Director of Genesis Medical Centre, who is aleading Australian authority on ROD treatment with Naltrexone, for his comments on thefinal draft of this paper. I would especially like to thank Dr. Robert B. McNeilly, a Directorof Ampersand Australia, who is a leading Australian authority on Solution Oriented Hypnosisand Solution Oriented Counselling, for being my mentor and teacher over several years; forhis encouragement and support; and for guiding me during the writing of this paper. Finally, Ithank my husband, Umberto, and son, Oscar, for all their love and support.ReferencesBarber, J. (1996). Hypnosis and suggestion in the treatment of pain: A clinical guide. NewYork: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Erickson, M.H. (1998). Healing in hypnosis: The seminars, workshops and lectures of MiltonH. Erickson Volume I. E.L. Rossi, M.O. Ryan & F.A. Sharp (Eds). London: Free AssociationBooks.
Leonard, B.E. (1992). Fundamentals of Psychopharmacology. Chichester, England: JohnWiley & Sons.

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